Washington (CNN) –Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, continues to face a tough re-election battle, as a new poll indicates that his unfavorable rating has reached 56 percent and he trails the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in a hypothetical general election match up.

Former Nevada Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Lowden holds an eight point lead over the Senate Democratic leader in the three way contest that includes Scott Ashjian, who is running as the Tea Party candidate. Reid, who has vowed to spend $25 million to win re-election in November, is one of the top targets for Republicans in November.

The Mason-Dixon poll, conducted for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, also shows that Lowden holds a commanding lead over her nearest rival for the right to challenge Reid in November. In the survey, 18 points separate Lowden from Danny Tarkanian with a handful of other GOP candidates polling in single digits.

The Republican Senate primary is scheduled for June 8.

The Mason-Dixon/Las Vegas-Journal Review poll was conducted April 5-7, with 625 Nevada voters questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus four percentage points.

Update: Kelly Steele, a spokesman for Reid, criticized the methodology of the poll.

"The Review-Journal made the effort to approximate what the Republican primary ballot would look like in June, but still refused to test what November’s general election ballot would look like by leaving off the names of numerous candidates who are running. While the editors of the newspaper continue to use their news pages as a platform for bolstering Republicans, our campaign will continue our work to ensure the people of Nevada know how Sen. Reid is fighting to create jobs and get Nevada's economy back on track."

soundoff(22 Responses)

Harry Reid has nothing to worry about. As long as the Tea Party nutjobs keep up their hateful rhetoric, the better off Harry will be. Keep up the good work Tea Party Idiots.

April 12, 2010 10:39 am at 10:39 am |

cityguy

bye bye Harry!

April 12, 2010 10:55 am at 10:55 am |

8 Years of “trickle down economics” has only left a wet spot on working America's shoes!

Since all politics are local, I find it hard to believe that when voting time actually gets here, that the folks of Nevada are going to trade in the most powerful member of the Senate for a freshman which will be the least most powerful member of the Senate.

Reid can get more for his state in his position than a freshman would.

April 12, 2010 10:58 am at 10:58 am |

Don

I hope Harry Reid is removed. He and Pelosi have together with Obama are bringing this country down. After they are finished the USA will never be free again from government control. Get the thug out.

April 12, 2010 11:03 am at 11:03 am |

Jfs

Half of Mississippi is up here in Memphis ,Tn. working. They enjoy our services, including Emergency Hospital Services, and pay for NONE of the overhead. This guy not only looks and sounds like Boss Hogg...he thinks like him also. This "Good OLE" boy takes from the federal coffers to build state dams, highways,and inferstructure while his state's tax revenues to the feds pays for a SMALL portion of the costs. Where does the balance of the costs come from ???? Why that would be from the highly populated moderate and liberals states. Mississippi, like so many small Southern states, STOP the large states from getting anything that they may require by using their power in the US Senate It is a never ending cycle and Haley is at the root of this big divisiveness in our Country today.

April 12, 2010 11:03 am at 11:03 am |

billy123

Please Harry Reed will win this race. The state of Nevada has never had so much clout in Washington D.C. before and they will not give that up/

Besides the other Nevada GOP Senator Ensign is involved in a big scandle of his own. The current GOP Governor is not very good in the current polls either?

April 12, 2010 11:09 am at 11:09 am |

AXH

Get rid of him, vote him out!

Vote them all out!

April 12, 2010 11:11 am at 11:11 am |

Jerry - Florida

America, lets not forget what these imbeciles (Democrats) that we trusted with our vote and faith have done to our beloved country. Lets clean house starting this year! Stupack took the hint. Now it's NObama's, Plastic Pelosi's, Senile Reed, etc., etc., etc. turn to get a loud and clear message.

We must NEVER allow ourselves to be intimidated by the Bully-in-Chief and his misguided followers.

April 12, 2010 11:12 am at 11:12 am |

Willy Brown

Buh bye Hippy Harry.

April 12, 2010 11:14 am at 11:14 am |

ran

More of the same sloppy poll reports. When are you guys going to get into the 21st century: people under 45 yoa have cell phones not land lines meaning you are only sampling a select group of Americans those who still believe Doctors are "gods"

Get real and start doing fair and balance polling.

April 12, 2010 11:15 am at 11:15 am |

coreywalker

go ahead.put the same people in charge who put us in this mess back in charge.just don't cry when they do it again.

April 12, 2010 11:39 am at 11:39 am |

phoenix86

Harry Reid is an idiot. Nevada cannot afford to keep betting their house on the losing hand of a fool.

April 12, 2010 11:40 am at 11:40 am |

idiots

this is because nevadans are filled with red neck, gun carrying republicans who have again fallen for the lies, fear and garbage from the right! parts of this country make me sick to my stomach!

April 12, 2010 11:48 am at 11:48 am |

Fair is Fair

Don't go away mad, Harry... just go away.

April 12, 2010 11:55 am at 11:55 am |

Obama Victim

C ya Harry

April 12, 2010 11:55 am at 11:55 am |

JA/TN

polls didn't have President Obama winning early on, neither did the average sam bob

April 12, 2010 12:01 pm at 12:01 pm |

David E

Reid is a goner. Terrible leader if there ever was one.

April 12, 2010 12:01 pm at 12:01 pm |

Dennis

Harry has become too liberal for his constituency.

April 12, 2010 12:12 pm at 12:12 pm |

TEXAN FOR THE TRUTH

Yea tea party candidate.

April 12, 2010 12:16 pm at 12:16 pm |

Marry

Harry Reid is a real hero! A man that shows he has a real concern for the welfare of the people. He is working hard FOR all the people and has the backbone to stand against the insurance rip-off and. Dear Nevada voters, think hart before you vote and don’t be fooled by the GOP. They did not do anything for you before and they will not do anything for you in the future!

April 12, 2010 12:24 pm at 12:24 pm |

Hispanic GOP

Liberals will be FINISH in Nov 2010, and that is a FACT. The Conseratives will take back House and Senate, and then repeal Health Care. You will see that in Nov 2010. Tea Party Rocks!!!! All of You Liberals Moron will regreat what you done to this Great Nations of The USA. We Will get our country back from the Morons Liberals